Shoe stretcher



F. w. NATHAN 2,50@,1l7

SHOE STRETCHER March 14, 195@ Filed Nov. 19, 1943 i 2] vwa/wto o 5 E' ED W. N4 THAN Patented Mar. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES OFFICE SHOE STRETKJHER Application November 19, 1943, Serial No. 510,953

6 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in shoe stretching or easing devices, and more particularly to a device of this character which is controlled in its action and result by the hand application of portions of a shoe thereto, the primary object of the invention being to provide a device of this character which will enable predetermined and limited portions of a shoe to be stretched or eased without affecting other portions of the shoe and without damaging the latter.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a device with interchangeable parts or elements enabling different parts or portions of a shoe to be applied thereto, as may be necessary or desirable for purposes of stretching or easing.

A still further object resides in the provision of a device having separate elements for easing the toe portion of the present day popular opentoe shoes, for raising or lifting the toe portion of a shoe when the latter has a tendency to press on the toe of the wearer and for stretching or easing a specific and limited portion of a shoe which may affect a corn or bunion of the wearer.

A further object resides in providing a device which may be permanently secured to a table or other structure having means thereon for removably supporting the various elements adapted to be used in connection with portions of the shoes to be eased or stretched.

A still further object resides in providing a device which is simple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and one which will be very efficient and useful in operation.

With these and numerous other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved device, with a shoe shown applied thereto for the casing or stretching of the open-toe thereof, the support for the device being shown in section,

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the device removed from its support,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the forward end of the basic portion of th device, with a shoe, in section, applied thereto and about to be eased. or stretched at the vamp portion thereof, i

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section as seen on the line 4 i of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a similar view as seen on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

In my man years of experience in the retail shoe industry, I have found, as others have also discovered, that the usual mechanical stretching devices are very detrimental to the business and damaging to the shoes. It is a known fact that shoes must be eased from time to time to meet the requirements of the purchasing public and the conventional and customary type of shoe stretcher is used almost universally, but this type of stretcher does not case or stretch a shoe in a particular spot only. As a matter of fact, this type of stretcher expands the shoe throughout the area enclosed by the upper. The result of such stretching has been to either seriously damage the shoe, due to carelessness on the part of the salesman, or to expand the shoe throughout, making the same a poor fitting shoe. In most instances, the stretching of the shoe through these mechanical stretchers has so weakened the same that, if the shoe is not actually damaged at th time of stretching, the shoe becomes split and damaged after short use, necessitating return to the retailer who may or may not feel inclined to replace the same without charge.

Furthermore, the conventional type of shoe stretcher is thrown from place to place by the users from time to time and is frequentlymisplaced, so that the next person desiring to use the same loses time in trying to locat same. Very frequentl the careless handling of these conventional stretchers causes damage thereto.

All of these difiiculties and detriments, as out-' lined above, are well known industry.

My invention contemplates the provision of a device of simple and durable construction which may be readily and quickly applied to a support or permanent mounting and which is supplied with a plurality of separable elements, each adapted to perform a specific function, through the application of the shoe thereto, but which elements are capable of being removably supto the retail shoe ported at all times on the device and made available at all times for use as desired. To this end, I provide an arm I, formed of wood, metal or any other desired hard material, which is preferably cylindrical in design and solid. The surface thereof adjacent the rear end is off-set to form a shoulder 2 providing a flat fac so that the arm may be applied to the edge of a table or other support 3 and firmly and removably-seasoqew cured thereto through the medium of the screws 4. As aforesaid, this device is to be permanently secured in place so that it will not become lost or misplaced, so that it is made in a fashion to be secured to the support, but obviously it may be removed when and if necessary.

The outer end portion of the arm I is enlarged to form a head portion and the periphery thereof is arcuately formed as shown at 4', for a purpose to be hereinafter and more particularly set forth. The extreme outer end of the arm I is provided with a recess or socket 5 extending inwardly a predetermined distance from the outer edge, said socket or recess being circular in cross-section. Extending inwardly from the upper peripheral edge of the arm I for a predetermined distance are the spaced recesses or sockets B, which are of the same diameter as the recess or socket 5. These sockets 6 are in longitudinal spaced alignment and serve to support various easing or stretching elements, as will be hereinafter and more particularly set forth.

One form of easing or stretching device is that illustrated and designated by the numeral I which is somewhatconical in shape provided with a dowel-like stem 8, the latter being of a diameter adapted to either fit in one of the sockets 6 or in the socket or recess 5. It may be here stated that the sockets 6 constitute their receiving means for elements when not in use.- In Figure 1, I have shown this element 1 applied to the outer end of the arm i, that is, with the stem 8 inserted in the socket 5 for use in easing or slightly stretching the open-toe portion s of the shoe S. In Figure 2, I have shown this particular element about to be applied to the sockets 6 when use thereof has.

been completed. As shown in Figure 1, when the open-toe of the shoe is slightly tight for the wearer and it is desired to ease the same, this toe-easer or stretcher is appliedto the socket 5 and the shoe inserted thereover so that the apex of the member or element 1 projects therethrough. By hand, the operator may press the shoe against the conical shape of this element and ease or slightly stretch the shoe at this portion, which requires the easing. Obviously, the greater the pressure of the shoe by the operator against this conical formation of the element 1, the greater the easing or stretching will be. It will be observed, however, that only that portion of the shoe which desires the easing will be affected. Inasmuch as shoes of this character have openings at the toe portion thereof of different sizes, I have also provided a section element 9 having a stem it] thereon which may be substituted for the element 1 when necessary, This element 9 is generally of similar shape to that of element 1 except that it is generally larger. When the operator has completed his easing or stretching of the opentoe portion of the shoe, the elements I and 9 are returned to the sockets 6 on the arm I so that they may be available and ready for use when the desirability therefor next occurs.

As stated previously, I providev a number of different elements of slightly difierent shape for use in stretching or easing different portions of the shoe. Frequently, it becomes necessary to case a shoe on the sides thereof, to accommodate.

this stretcher, it is removed from the sockets 5. and the stem I2 is inserted in the socket. or recess.

5 at the end of the arm I. Then the operator applies the shoe thereover and finds the particular spot on the shoe where the easing or stretching is desired. Having found this portion of the upper of the shoe, the operator works or presses the shoe over the head portion of the element ll back and forth until the shoe is sufficiently eased or stretched to meet the requirements of the wearer. It will be noted that this particular corn or bunion stretcher H is somewhat oval or egg-shaped and when the particular portion of the shoe desired to be stretched or eased is worked thereover, it is apparent that only that portion of the upper of the shoe will be stretched. Thus, a misfit is avoided.

I have found also that the stiff toe portion of a shoe is frequently so low as to force downwardly on the toes of the wearer to cause pain. If the ordinary and customary stretching device is applied, it has been found that portions of the shoe are stretched which are not necessary, thus causing a misfit. I have provided a specific type of toe raiser which when used will obtain the desired result without affecting other portions of'the-shoe. One form of toe raiser is illustrated by the numeral l3 which is of ball-like design carried at the end of a cylindrical arm I4, the lower end of which is provided with a dowel-like stem l5 adapted to fit either in the sockets '6 or the recess illustrated by the numeral l6 whichis somewhat oval in design mounted on the end of the arm or cylindrical body portion I! which is provided at its lower end with a dowel-like stem I'B adapted to fit either in one of the sockets -6 or the socket 5. These two types of toe raisers will, I have found, meet all general requirements. With certain lasts, the larger ball-like type as shown at I3 may be used and where the last does not require such great raising, the type shown at [6 may be used. In either instance, the element is removed from the arm I and the stem thereof inserted in the socket 5 at the end of the arm. The long shank or body portion of the toe-raiser will enable the shoe to be readily applied thereover and the head of the element fitted under the toe portion of the shoe. By pressing or forcing the shoe inwardly over the head of the element, the stiffened or hard toe will, obviously, be raised. Thus pressure on the toe of the wearer will be relieved and the shoe made comfortably fitting, without affecting other portions thereof.

Frequently, and particularly in connection with womens shoes, it is found necessary to stretch, or case the vamp of a shoe. In the drawing, I have shown the vamp of the shoe S designatedby the numeral S and when it is desired to ease that portion of a shoe, it is only necessary to apply the. latter to the arcuate head 4' and with both hands the operator may work the vamp of the shoe back and forth over the arcuate portion until some slight stretching or easing has taken place at this portion of the shoe. In this manner, the portion that may create pressure on the foot will be eased without stretching or affecting other. nortions of the shoe. Under the present methods of stretching shoes, a stretching of the vamp will also create a stretching of other portions of the shoe, causing, in many instances, a misfit and often causing the upper to separate from the sole of the shoe or weakening the sameto such an extent, that this damage will occur after slight use. With the use of my improved device, and the easing of the vamp inthe manner above de- 1 scribed, the difficulties heretofore encountered or socket 5. A second type of toe raiser is that will be avoided. Movement of the shoe over the device to ease the vamp may be done with as great pressure on the part of the operator as may be necessary to meet the requirements.

It is apparent from the various elements I have provided for easing or slightly stretching portions of a shoe, the requirements may be met without damaging the shoe. Furthermore, it will be found possible, with my device, to ease just such portions of a shoe as may be necessary to satisfy the wearer.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improved device, the operation thereof and the method of applying same to use will be readily understood and it will be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive and efl'icient means for carrying out the various objects of the invention.

While I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is apparent that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A shoe stretching device comprising an arm adapted to be firmly secured to a support and having its outer end portion enlarged to form a head, the head being elongated longitudinally and being circular in cross section and having its surface longitudinally arcuate whereby the vamp of a shoe may be drawn over the head and manipulated to stretch the vamp, and a spot stretching element removably mounted at the front end of said head and projecting forwardly therefrom.

2. A shoe stretching or easing device comprising an arm adapted to be rigidly secured to a support, the outer end of said arm projecting beyond said support being enlarged and shaped to form a head having a transversely and longitudinally rounded surface and over which the vamp of a shoe may be drawn for easing or stretching, the extreme end of said head having a longitudinal socket formed therein, and a spot stretching element constituting one of a series of such elements adapted to be supported in said socket.

3. A shoe stretching device comprising an arm adapted to be secured at one end to a support, the outer end portion of said arm being formed with a longitudinally extending socket leading from the outer end of the arm, said arm being also formed with a socket extending diametrically of the arm and of the same diameter as the socket in the outer end portion of the arm, and a, spot stretching element having a portion adapted to fit into either socket whereby the spot stretching element may be fitted into the diametrically extending socket when not in use and removed therefrom and fitted into the longitudinally extending socket and project forwardly therefrom for use in stretching a predetermined portion of a shoe disposed about the spot stretching element and manipulated thereover.

4. A shoe stretching or easing device comprising an arm adapted to be secured at its one end rigidly to a support, the outer projecting end thereof being enlarged to provide a head having an arcuate surface and over which the vamp of a shoe may be drawn for easing or stretching, the extreme outer end of said head being provided with a central longitudinal socket, a spot stretching element adapted to be applied to and supported in said socket for use in easing or stretching a predetermined portion of a shoe, and means for supporting said element when not in use on the arm between the ends thereof.

5. A shoe stretching or easing device comprising an arm adapted to be rigidly secured at its inner end to a support, the outer end of said arm being enlarged and having its surface arcuately formed to provide a head over which the vamp of a shoe may be drawn for stretching, the extreme outer end of said head being provided with a central longitudinal socket, and a spot stretching element comprising a head portion and a stem, said element constituting means for stretching a predetermined portion of a shoe, the stem of said element being adapted for insertion and frictional retention in said socket when used, and means on said arm between the ends thereof for removably supporting said element thereon when not in use.

6. A shoe stretching or easing device comprising an arm adapted to be rigidly secured at its inner end to a support, the outer and projected end being enlarged and having its surface arcuately shaped to provide a head thereon, the extreme end of said head being formed with a central longitudinal socket leading from its outer end, said arm between its ends being provided with a transversely extending socket, and a spot stretching element formed with a head portion of predetermined size and shape and a stem thereon and constituting means for stretching a predetermined portion of a shoe, the stem of said element being fitted in the first mentioned socket of the head when in use and fitted into the transversely extending socket of the arm when not in use.

FRED W. NATHAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,416,378 Pedersen et al. May 16, 1922 1,567,039 Cavanna Dec. 29, 1925 1,850,389 Gimson Mar. 22, 1932 2,089,976 MacMichael Aug. 17, 1937 2,187,663 Reiter et a1 Jan. 16, 1940 

